The generalist predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is a commercially available natural enemy widely used for the biological control of phytophagous pests. Because mass rearing of phytoseiid predatory mites can be facilitated by alternative food sources such as pollen, this study evaluated the suitability of plant pollen as a non-prey diet for the long-term rearing of A. swirskii. The effects of rearing on a mixed pollen diet consisting of bird-of-paradise (Erythrostemon gilliesii), maize (Zea mays), almond (Prunus amygdalus), saffron (Crocus sativus), and cattail (Typha latifolia) pollen were assessed on key biological parameters of A. swirskii over 50 generations (G1–G50). All experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions at 25 ± 1 °C, 65 ± 5% relative humidity, and a 16:8 h (L:D) photoperiod The results showed that the mixed pollen diet effectively sustained predator performance across generations, with key life-history traits remaining stable from the first to the 50th generation. These traits included developmental time (5.19 days in G1, and 6.92 days in G50), fecundity (42.04 and 38.61 eggs/ female in G1 and G50, respectively), intrinsic rate of increase (0.188 and 0.159 day-1 in G1 and G50, respectively), and net reproductive rate (20.45 and 21.73 eggs/individual in G1 and G50, respectively) remaining stable from the first to the 50th generation. These findings indicate that the mixed pollen diet represents a promising and sustainable option for the long-term mass rearing of A. swirskii.
Cannibalism is common in phytoseiid mites. It helps predators survive during food scarcity but may affect their sustainability for pest control in agricultural systems. Neoseiulus agrestis (Karg) and Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes (Acari: Phytoseiidae), found in Inner Mongolia, show potential for controlling spider mites. It is currently unclear the impact of food availability on the frequency of cannibalism in these two species. Pollen is an important alternative food source for generalist predatory mites. This study investigated how starvation durations (0, 12, and 24 h) of cannibals and pollen diets (Typha sp. and Zea mays L.) affect the cannibalism rate in N. agrestis and N. barkeri. Results showed that only adults of both species preyed on juvenile conspecifics, with N. agrestis exhibiting most aggressive toward conspecific nymphs and N. barkeri exhibiting most aggressive toward conspecific larvae. The prolonged starvation duration of cannibals significantly increased cannibalism rates in both species of predatory mites. Meanwhile, adding cattail pollen significantly increased conspecific survival and reduced cannibalism, but this effect was observed only in N. agrestis, not in N. barkeri. Adding maize pollen significantly increased conspecific survival and reduced cannibalism in both predators. This suggests that the occurrence of cannibalism varied across phytoseiid species, developmental stages, starvation durations, and pollen species. Furthermore, maize pollen reduced cannibalism in both predators, which may help manage spider mites on maize at low population levels.
A new feather mite, Procellaricoptes hydrobati gen. n., sp. n. (Analgoidea: Dermationidae), is described from the European storm petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus (Procellariiformes: Hydrobatidae), in the Faroe Islands, Denmark. This is the first description of feather mite taxa of the family Dermationidae from an avian host of the order Procellariiformes. The new genus Procellaricoptes gen. n. belongs to the Dermation genus-group and is most close to the genus Neodermation Fain, 1964. It differs from Neodermation in having the idiosomal setae d2 present in both sexes, roughly rectangular adanal shields in females and by the absence of apicoventral claw-like process on tarsi III in males. An updated world checklist of species of the family Dermationidae is provided.
A new Phyllocoptinae species and two new Diptilomiopinae species (Acari: Eriophyoidea) from China are described and illustrated. They are Aculus glaucae sp. nov. on Lindera glauca (Siebold et Zucc.) Blume (Lauraceae). Diptilomiopus maomingensis sp. nov. on Averrhoa carambola L. (Oxalidaceae), Diptilomiopus bilobae sp. nov. on Ginkgo biloba L. (Ginkgoaceae). Two new species of Diptilomiopus are vagrants on leaves, whereas Aculus glaucae sp. nov. induces leaf yellowing on its host plant.
Recently, mixture formulations of different active ingredients have been used to prevent or delay resistance in pests. However, their effect on resistance development has not been extensively studied in spider mites. Therefore, the development of resistance to a spiromesifen+abamectin (SA) mixture in Panonychus ulmi populations from apple orchards in Isparta, T & uuml;rkiye, and a laboratory-selected population was investigated in this study. Cross-resistance to spiromesifen, spirodiclofen, abamectin, milbemectin, and spirodiclofen+abamectin was also evaluated. Three orchard populations showed low resistance (3.2-7.6-fold), while the laboratory-selected population (IR) exhibited moderate resistance (23.1-fold) to the SA mixture. Synergist assays with DEM, TPP, and PBO revealed significant involvement of detoxification enzymes (esterases, GST, and P450). Molecular analyses identified G314D (GluCl1) and I321T (GluCl3) previously characterized point mutations associated with abamectin resistance, and several novel mutations in acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) domains potentially linked to spiromesifen resistance. These results indicate that both metabolic and target-site mutation mechanisms contribute to the resistance determined in P. ulmi.
The oribatid mite genus Trimetabelba (Oribatida, Damaeidae) comprises three species distributed in central and southern Europe. We describe four new species—T. makarovae sp. nov., T. russiaensis sp. nov., T. helenae sp. nov., and T. irregularis sp. nov.—based on adults collected from Russia, Turkey, and Abkhazian Region. Based on the comparative morphology of the four new species, a revision of the diagnostic characters of Trimetabelba has been performed: the main and most important character distinguishing Trimetabelba from Metabelba sensu stricto is recognized as the presence of tubercles La, while other characters may vary. Based on the presence of tubercle La, a new combination has been proposed: Trimetabelba parapulverosa (Moritz, 1966) comb. nov. A description of all juvenile instars of T. makarovae sp. nov. is provided, and it is shown that there are no significant characteristics distinguishing the juveniles of Trimetabelba from Metabelba sensu stricto.
The predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis is an important biological control agent for managing spider mites, yet the behavioural mechanisms underlying its prey-stage preference leading to predation remain poorly understood. We investigated the prey-stage preference of P. persimilis females on a spider mite, Tetranychus ludeni, by integrating preference behaviours and subsequent prey consumption. Predators encountered adult prey more frequently but significantly preferred eggs for feeding. Adult T. ludeni, particularly females, were more frequently rejected by predators and were more likely to escape. Behavioural analyses revealed that predators allocated most of their time to searching and resting, with comparatively less time spent feeding and grooming. Feeding success was highest on eggs due to their immobility and less handling time required. Furthermore, P. persimilis showed no significant difference in preference for feeding between active and quiescent (immobile) nymphal stages. Our findings demonstrate that prey profitability in P. persimilis was determined not by encounter rate but by the integration of prey vulnerability, handling time, and predation risk. The strong preference for early developmental stages highlights the importance of stage-specific predation in suppressing spider mite populations and reinforces the effectiveness of P. persimilis as a biological control agent.
A group of Crimean acarologists—I.Z. Livshits, V.I. Mitrofanov, and A.A. Sharonov—described eight species of tarsonemid mites of the subgenus Steneotarsonemus (Carextarsonemus) in a series of publications. These include S. (C.) casteli, S. (C.) crassisetis, S. (C.) intermedius, S. (C.) livshitzi, S. (C.) silvaticus, S. (C.) sininflatus, S. (C.) vagans, and S. (C.) variabilis from Crimea. In the present study, I provide redescriptions of these species based on the type material.
Two new species of the genus Neoseiulus Hughes are described from Russia. Neoseiulus brachysetosus sp. nov. is described from Sakhalin Island and can be distinguished from morphologically similar species by the absence of dorsal solenostome gd5, a relatively short peritreme, and a markedly shorter dorsal seta Z5. Neoseiulus neoperspectus sp. nov. is described from Altai Krai and differs from the closely related species, N. perspectus (Kolodochka), by the presence of dorsal solenostome gd5, a narrower spermathecal calyx, and more widely spaced pre-anal pores. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and diagnostic comparisons with related species are provided. Additionally, an identification key for the genus Neoseiulus from Russia is presented.
The morphology and ontogeny of Eustigmaeus pinnatus (Kuznetsov) (Trombidiformes: Stigmaeidae) are described based on specimens collected from soil and litter in T & uuml;rkiye. All active developmental stages, including larva, protonymph, deutonymph, tritonymph and adults, are examined in detail. The tritonymphal stage, which has rarely been reported in the genus, is documented and characterized. Diagnostic morphological features of each stage are provided, with particular emphasis on the development of idiosomal shields, coxisternal organization, and leg and gnathosomal setation, as well as aggenital configuration. Ontogenetic changes in setation are analysed, and their taxonomic significance is discussed. Comparative assessments of E. pinnatus with E. jiangxiensis Hu, Chen & Huang and E. turcicus Do & gbreve;an & Ayy & imath;ld & imath;z are also presented. Th e results contribute to a better understanding of character development within the genus.
Phytoseiidae is a diverse family of predatory mites whose correct identification is essential for their effective use in biological control programs. As usual in taxonomic works, descriptions of new taxa always carry some degree of uncertainty as to whether they are really new or could represent previously described taxa. In a recent taxonomic study by Denmark & Evans published in 2019, 10 new genera and more than 50 new species of phytoseiid mites were described, representing one of the largest single contributions to Phytoseiidae taxonomy in recent decades. Some of these taxa, however, have raised questions regarding their validity. In particular, the monotypic genus Collyerseius Denmark & Evans and its type species C. ericoides are morphologically very similar to Neoseiulella Nesbitt and N. manukae (Collyer), respectively. In addition, Neoseiulus paracucumeris, N. melongenus, N. thailandicus, and Paraseiulella sylvestra, all described by Denmark & Evans, appear very similar to N. longilaterus (Athias-Henriot), N. longispinosus (Evans) (for both N. melongenus and N. thailandicus), and Metaseiulus (Metaseiulus) citri (Garman & McGregor), respectively. Due to these observed morphological similarities, we examined the type material of each species except for N. thailandicus, whose holotype could not be located. That led to the conclusion that Collyerseius and its type species are junior synonyms of Neoseiulella and N. manukae. In addition, based on our examination and available literature, all other taxa mentioned earlier are here proposed as junior synonyms of their respective senior species.
Chelacheles persicus sp. nov. (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Cheyletidae) is described based on adult females from Babolsar, Mazandaran province, northern Iran. This species can be distinguished by the following combination of characters: one weakly sclerotized propodonotal shield present and setae ftI absent. Additionally, a key to the world species (female) of the genus Chelacheles Baker is updated.
The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, is a globally significant polyphagous pest whose outbreaks intensify in greenhouses during summer. With temperatures frequently exceeding 40℃ in northwest China, understanding how acute heat stress affects mite biology and molecular responses is essential for climate-resilient pest management. This study investigated the physiological and transcriptional responses of T. urticae to acute heat stress (38℃, 42℃, 46℃, and 50℃ for 2–6 h). Exposure to 50℃ completely inhibited egg hatching, while developmental duration was maximally prolonged after 6 h at 46℃. Juvenile survival was lowest under 50℃ stress, and female survival declined significantly at 46℃ and 50℃ with prolonged exposure. At the molecular level, two trehalose transporter genes (TurtTret1-1 and TurtTret1-2) were characterized. Phylogenetic analysis revealed closest homology of TurtTret1-1 with PcitTret1 and TurtTret1-2 with PcitTret1-2 from Panonychus citri McGregor. Quantitative expression analysis revealed that both genes were significantly upregulated at 38 ℃ relative to the control (25℃), with expression peaking and subsequently declining as temperatures increased further. Acute heat stress profoundly impaired the development and survival in T. urticae, and trehalose transport proteins were associated with the heat stress response. These findings improve our understanding of mite population dynamics under high-temperature conditions and indicate that transporters are associated with the heat-stress and may warrant future functional study.
A new species of the subgenus Leptogalumna (Leptogalumna), L. (L.) dilatata Akrami sp. nov., is described, based on female adults collected from soil beneath fruit trees in Sistan & Baluchestan Province, southeastern Iran. Leptogalumna (L.) dilatata differs from all other Leptogalumna species in the morphology of the bothridial seta (with weakly expanded head in distal half versus setiform and flagellate in other species). A diagnostic key to the adults of the known species of Leptogalumna, as well as a summary of their distribution and habitats, is provided.
A new species of the Torrenticola brevirostris complex, T. iskenderi n. sp., is described from southwestern T & uuml;rkiye based on integrative morphological and molecular evidence. The male of the new species can be distinguished from closely related congeners by a combination of a shortened postgenital area, longer medial suture lines of Cx-II+III, a distinctive dorsal shield colour pattern, and divergent DNA barcode sequences. The diagnostic value of colour patterns for species delineation within the T. brevirostris complex is briefly discussed.
